Demand Planning Analyst

Want to help us bring happiness to the world? Want to join an ambitious and fast growing global biscuits and confectionery business investing heavily in iconic global brands, infrastructure and people? Then this is the place for you.

As proud bakers and chocolatiers and custodians of iconic global brands, we don’t compromise on the quality of ingredients in our products or on the people we hire. We are looking for entrepreneurial spirits who share our passion for bringing happiness to our consumers and who embody our Winning Traits.

To succeed at pladis you need to be purpose-led, resilient and positive because we expect pace and agility, insist on collaboration, and demand accountability. If that is your thing, then pladis offers global ambition, a clear Vision and roadmap for success, challenge, and unrivalled opportunities to learn and make an impact.

This role offers an agile 3,2 working pattern with 3 days in the office and 2 days from home.

As we try to reduce our carbon footprint and adapt our styles of working, pladis global’s amazing head office in Chiswick Park offers great public transport links, agile working spaces, with both meeting and training rooms, as well as formal and informal workstations. The park also offers great restaurants and services for everything you need to suit your day.

What will this role achieve?

We are looking for a strong and committed individual will support the generation of medium to long term financial and operational demand plans. Analyze and interpret historical sales data, at a customer and product level within the UK&I region. This analysis will be used to review the forward forecast, across all commercial teams. The role will analyze the activity levels and performance measures applying the demand planning system. The role exists to improve accuracy & bias for internal forecasts.

What will be your key deliverables?

• Sales performance: analysis, interpretation and communication.
• Working with the Senior Demand Planning Analyst, generate medium – long term monthly forecast projections.
• Leverage historical data and market intelligence to improve trend analysis.
• Understand historical performance deviations and build into future demand models.
• Continuously review the “bottom up” forward forecast generated by the customer demand planners with their Customer teams. Identifying potential anomalies and query / challenge as appropriate.
• Apply & understand monthly forecast activities, including forecast accuracy, reviewed products, and deviations to calculated forecasts. Generate planning activity summaries.
• Hold 121 monthly performance review meetings with the customer team demand planners.
• Assess historical performance vs future demand projections, proposing changes and areas of focus.
• Circulate performance review actions and review status monthly.
• Using internal and external data, develop a monthly summary of demand performance for each product and customer. Analyze any notable performance differences, taking into consideration the impact of competitor and retailer actions. Establish / project the anticipated impact to the forecasted demand.
• Monitor the performance of new products launches. Understand performance deviation and provide direction of future changes required by the commercial teams via the demand planners.
• Own and maintain all internal reporting (Power BI, Excel, Foundry planning system).
• Circulate weekly & monthly performance reports.
• Build new reporting requirements, collaborating with internal data collaborators as needed.
• Primary internal contact for the internal system (Foundry), collaborating closely with IT for development and / or support requirements.
• Provide operational and tactical demand planning support and direction to the Ireland commercial team, conducting fortnightly account review meetings and providing ad hoc support as required.

Bring your experience.

• Proven previous experience disseminating and interpreting large data volumes.
• Strong cross-channel experience (Convenience & Impulse, Grocery, Hospitality).
• High level of analytical & numeracy skills. Dissemination of high volume data.
• Strong Communication skills – written and verbal.
• Driven and capable to flex from strategy to execution.
• Proficient in establishing relationships and working optimally with partners.
• Ownership and accountability.

Personal Attributes:

• Experience in FMCG, food and drinks.

What will the interview process be?

1st stage interview – 45 minutes competency-based interview based on our company values and your experiences.

2nd stage interview – 60 minutes – a technical interview to understand your skill set/case study or presentation interview.

pladis does also use both Psychometric and Aptitude tests to support our processes so you may be asked to complete these as part of your process.

What does pladis offer you?

• Annual Incentive Plan (AIP) – this is the business’s annual bonus scheme.
• Opportunity to self-enrol into Health Cash Plan.
• Private medical Insurance.
• Life Assurance Cover ~ upon enrolment to Stakeholder Pension Scheme.
• 25 days + bank holidays.
• 1 Volunteering Day per year.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Discounted gym membership – Carlisle and Chiswick only.
• Discount and Cashback Scheme – make your everyday spending work hard for you on major high street brands, supermarkets and services.
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme.
• Financial Wellbeing Support.
• Access to great training and development opportunities.

Our Values

Purpose led – We’re energised and guided by our purpose to bring happiness with every bite.

Agile – We’re ever evolving, we never stand still, always improving for our customers and our consumers.

Positive – We’re highly motivated optimistic, courageous, and we inspire each other to be better.

Resilient – We’re persistent in the face of setbacks, quick to adapt, learn and move forward.

Collaborative – We gain strength from operating as one pladis, winning and succeeding together.

pladis is an equal opportunities employer, like every great recipe we’re a thoughtful mix. A happy and inclusive place to work that’s as diverse as our consumers and the communities we support, live and work in, all around the world. Where every voice is heard, and difference is celebrated. Where fresh perspectives and new ideas help us grow and thrive.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform key job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

pladis is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to hiring a diverse workforce. All openings will be filled based on qualifications without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, religion or any other classification protected by law.

About Us

pladis is one of the world’s fastest growing snacking companies and home to much loved brands including McVitie’s, GODIVA and Ülker. pladis also owns regional brands Jacob’s, Go Ahead, Flipz, Turtles, BN, Verkade and many more products across sweet and savoury biscuits, wafer, cake and chocolate.

Formed in 2016, pladis is the proud steward of over 300 years of family baking and confectionery experience. The expertise of our 16,000-strong global workforce spans 27 bakeries across 11 countries and is united by our purpose: to ‘bring happiness with every bite’.

As a responsible business delivering the highest quality products and exceptional service, pladis’ products have the potential to reach more than four billion people across the world.